Birk, who played for $350,000 last season, and the Vikings are
expected to continue to negotiate a long-term contract. The Vikings
have offered the 24-year-old Cretin-Derham Hall graduate a $10
million, five-year deal that includes a $2 million signing bonus.
That, however, is considerably below Birk's market value. Birk can
become an unrestricted free agent after next season if he doesn't
accept a long-term deal. His agent, Joe Linta, said Birk signed so he
could begin early workouts with Vikings offensive line coach Mike
Tice.

* Vikings middle linebacker Kailee Wong, who like Birk has been
offered the same $1.13 million tender as a restricted free agent,
isn't likely to sign the tender soon. Wong, who isn't considered as
marketable a free agent as Birk, has until April 16 to accept
Minnesota's tender.

* Vikings owner Red McCombs said Monday, after his team made it under
the $67.4 million salary cap, ``We still have plans and alternate
plans to give the Vikings a very good chance to be very competitive''
for next season, but he wouldn't reveal them. Why? ``Because you
don't know which way they're going to fall,'' he said.

* There's talk in NFL circles that the Vikings are willing to spend up
to $4 million by way of a signing bonus for Miami Dolphins restricted
free-agent defensive end Lorenzo Bromell. But that deal would cost the
Vikings their first-round (No. 27 overall) draft pick, and that
doesn't excite them.

Answers

Birk had a great year no doubt, but it was one year and already he is
looking for $4mil. garnted good centers are hard to come by but the
Vikings offer was fair considering he made like $380,000 last year. I
hope we sign him to a long term deal but c'mon Matt sign the contract
then after 2or 3 more pro bowls maybe you can renegotiate. just
another example of out of control salaries in the NFL and everywhere.
GO VIKES!!!!!!